It's easier to ignore wrong doings than to stand up for what's right
It is easier to overcome obstacles when you are not alone
When a government no longer protects its people, the people have the right to overthrow the government. The government should be by the people, of the people, for the people.
FIGHT The crowd draws a collective breath and then you can hear a pin drop, and I’m feeling nauseous and so desperately hoping that it’s not me, that it’s not me, that it’s not me.
And it’s not me It’s Primrose Everdeen
“I volunteer!” I gasp. “I volunteer as tribute!”
You can’t miss the desperation as I shove Prim behind me, as if no one will hear and they’ll take Prim away Oh, no I think. Not him. Because I recognize his name, although I have never spoken directly to its owner. Peeta Mellark. It’s because he’s being kind. Just as he was kind to give me the bread. “It’s not just hunting. They’re armed. They think.”
“So do you. And you’ve had more practice. Real practice. You know how to kill.”
“Not People”
“How different can it be, really”
I step away from the window, sickened by their excitement, knowing they can’t wait to watch us die.
I turn to the Gamemakers. A few are nodding approval, but the majority of them are fixated on a roast pig that has just arrived at their banquet table.
Suddenly I am furious, that with my life on the line, they don’t even have the decency to pay attention to me.
Without thinking, I pull as arrow from my quiver and send it straight at the Gamemakers’ table. Only I keep wishing I could think of a way to . . . to show the Capitol they don’t own me. That I’m more than just a piece in their Games.
Rue has only me. She just has time to reach her hand through the mesh and say my name before the spear enters her body.
My throat releases the tears and they slide down my cheeks, but I have to finish the song for her.
I want to do something, right here right now, to shame them, to make them accountable, to show the Capitol that whatever they do or force us to do there is a part of every tribute they can’t own.
That Rue was more than a piece in their games. And so am I.
Slowly, one stem at a time, I decorate her body in the flowers. Covering the ugly wound. Wreathing her face. Weaving her hair with bright colors.
I stare at Peeta in disbelief as the truth sinks in. They never intended to let us both live. This has all been devised by the Gamemakers to guarantee the most dramatic showdown in history.
“I can’t,” I say “I won’t.” We both know they have to have a victor. Yes, they have to have a victor. Without a victor, the whole thing would blow up in the Gamemakers’ faces.
If Peeta and I were both to die, or they thought we were . . .
I lift my hand to my mouth, taking one last look at the world. The berries have just passed my lips when the trumpets begin to blare.
“Stop! Stop! Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to present the victors of the Seventy-fourth Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Millark!”
That’s when I know that even though both of us would have eaten the berries, I am to blame for having the idea.
I’m the instigator.
I’m the one to be punished.
Theme
It's easier to ignore wrong doings than to stand up for what's right
It is easier to overcome obstacles when you are not alone
When a government no longer protects its people, the people have the right to overthrow the government. The government should be by the people, of the people, for the people.
FIGHT
The crowd draws a collective breath and then you can hear a pin drop, and I’m feeling nauseous and so desperately hoping that it’s not me, that it’s not me, that it’s not me.
And it’s not me It’s Primrose Everdeen
“I volunteer!” I gasp. “I volunteer as tribute!”
You can’t miss the desperation as I shove Prim behind me, as if no one will hear and they’ll take Prim away
Oh, no I think. Not him. Because I recognize his name, although I have never spoken directly to its owner. Peeta Mellark.
It’s because he’s being kind. Just as he was kind to give me the bread.
“It’s not just hunting. They’re armed. They think.”
“So do you. And you’ve had more practice. Real practice. You know how to kill.”
“Not People”
“How different can it be, really”
I step away from the window, sickened by their excitement, knowing they can’t wait to watch us die.
I turn to the Gamemakers. A few are nodding approval, but the majority of them are fixated on a roast pig that has just arrived at their banquet table.
Suddenly I am furious, that with my life on the line, they don’t even have the decency to pay attention to me.
Without thinking, I pull as arrow from my quiver and send it straight at the Gamemakers’ table.
Only I keep wishing I could think of a way to . . . to show the Capitol they don’t own me. That I’m more than just a piece in their Games.
Rue has only me. She just has time to reach her hand through the mesh and say my name before the spear enters her body.
My throat releases the tears and they slide down my cheeks, but I have to finish the song for her.
I want to do something, right here right now, to shame them, to make them accountable, to show the Capitol that whatever they do or force us to do there is a part of every tribute they can’t own.
That Rue was more than a piece in their games. And so am I.
Slowly, one stem at a time, I decorate her body in the flowers. Covering the ugly wound. Wreathing her face. Weaving her hair with bright colors.
I stare at Peeta in disbelief as the truth sinks in. They never intended to let us both live. This has all been devised by the Gamemakers to guarantee the most dramatic showdown in history.
“I can’t,” I say “I won’t.”
We both know they have to have a victor.
Yes, they have to have a victor. Without a victor, the whole thing would blow up in the Gamemakers’ faces.
If Peeta and I were both to die, or they thought we were . . .
I lift my hand to my mouth, taking one last look at the world. The berries have just passed my lips when the trumpets begin to blare.
“Stop! Stop! Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to present the victors of the Seventy-fourth Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Millark!”
That’s when I know that even though both of us would have eaten the berries, I am to blame for having the idea.
I’m the instigator.
I’m the one to be punished.
Citation
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Declaration of Independence. Photograph. Preparedness Pro. 2 July 2009. Web. 21 May 2010. <http://preparednesspro.wordpress.com/2009/07/02/independence-in-preparation/declaration-of-independence/>.
Heart. 2009. Photograph. Chicago. Recently in Medical. Living Healthy: Chicago, 2009. Web. 15 May 2010. <http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http:weblogs.cltv.com/features/health/livinghealthy/HEART%2520LOU.jpg&imgrefurl=http://weblogs.cltv.com/features/health/livinghealthy/medical/&usg=560jsLRV24jcEKDltaizHGRrMAo=&h=400&w=400&sz=30&hl=en&start=4&itbs=1&tbnid=PLovHyk9MkQJ3M:&tbnh=124&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dheart%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1>.
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